You are here

Calico Hills, Photo Gallery, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada

Calico Hills

Red Rock Canyon

The Calico Hills are the remains of a red sand dune field thought to be one of the largest ever on earth. Over time, underground water moving through the dune field carried away much of the original color but left behind calcium carbonate, which cemented the sand. The dunes were then compressed and lithified under the weight of overlying deposits that would eventually erode away, exposing the striking formations we see today.